White River (Yukon)

For other uses, see White River.
White River
White River near Beaver Creek, Yukon
White River (Yukon) is located in Alaska
White River (Yukon)
Location of the mouth of the White River in Yukon
Native nameTadzan ndek (Hän)
Location
Countries
  • United States
  • Canada
State/Territory
Census AreaValdez–Cordova in Alaska
Physical characteristics
SourceRussell Glacier
 • locationWrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Saint Elias Mountains, Alaska
 • coordinates61°40′18″N 141°50′01″W / 61.67167°N 141.83361°W / 61.67167; -141.83361[1]
 • elevation4,258 ft (1,298 m)[2]
MouthYukon River[1]
 • location
12 miles (19 km) upstream of the mouth of the Stewart River, Yukon
 • coordinates
63°11′24″N 139°35′23″W / 63.19000°N 139.58972°W / 63.19000; -139.58972[1]
 • elevation
2,129 ft (649 m)[1]
Length200 mi (320 km)[3]

The White River (French: Rivière Blanche; Hän: Tadzan ndek) is a tributary about 200 miles (320 km) long, of the Yukon River in the U.S. state of Alaska and the Canadian territory of Yukon.[3] The Alaska Highway crosses the White River near Beaver Creek.

The White River is glacier-fed and contains large amounts of suspended sediment. It transports 19 million tons of sediment per year in the upper part of its basin.[4] This dramatically changes the clarity of the Yukon River, which remains sediment laden from the confluence to its mouth.[4]

  1. ^ a b c d "White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. January 1, 2000. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  2. ^ Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.
  3. ^ a b Orth, Donald J.; United States Geological Survey (1971) [1967]. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names: Geological Survey Professional Paper 567 (PDF). University of Alaska Fairbanks. p. 1044. Retrieved November 10, 2013. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  4. ^ a b Transport of Water, Carbon, and Sediment Through the Yukon River Basin